Vikings' star-studded line finally coming together

Matt Trowbridge

Friday

Nov 28, 2008 at 12:01 AMNov 28, 2008 at 7:11 AM

The spotlight shone more on Jared Allen after Minnesota traded its first-round draft pick and two third-rounders to Kansas City for the fifth-year defensive end, then made him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history with a six-year, $74 million contract.

The spotlight shone more on Jared Allen after Minnesota traded its first-round draft pick and two third-rounders to Kansas City for the fifth-year defensive end, then made him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history with a six-year, $74 million contract.

Yet the reigning NFL sack leader was supposed to also have it easier after joining the Vikings. He was no longer even the most decorated defensive lineman on his own team. That would be tackle Kevin Williams, a three-time All-Pro in five seasons. Pat Williams, the other half of Minnesota’s Williams Wall, made it one Pro Bowler and two All-Pros on one defensive line.

Only they didn’t at first play like an All-Pro line. Starting with Allen, who had only two sacks in his first five games.

“It took me about a month to get used to it,” Allen said in a teleconference. “I was trying to let those guys work inside. A big part of my game is taking what an offensive tackle gives me. When he gives me an inside rush, taking it. If he gives me an outside rush, taking it.

“I was trying to play too fundamentally sound the first few games instead of just doing what I usually do. Now we’re on the same page.”

Kevin Williams didn’t have a sack in the Vikings 0-2 start, but he’s had 8.5 in the last nine games leading up to Sunday night’s NFC North first-place showdown between the Bears (6-5) and Vikings (6-5) at the Metrodome. That’s more than he’s had in the last two years combined and within three of his career high. Allen has six sacks in the last six games, giving him eight on the season to rank 10th in the NFL (Williams is eighth).

Allen, who had 15.5 sacks last year and 43 in four seasons with the Chiefs, may become the seventh consecutive NFL sack leader to drop off the following season, but he is now back on his career pace for both sacks and tackles, with 47.

Chicago had little trouble with Minnesota’s line in a 48-41 win in Soldier Field, but since then the Vikings have had at least four sacks in their three wins and also had two safeties and a defensive touchdown.

“They have three Pro Bowlers on their defensive line,” Bears center Olin Kreutz said. “It’s tough enough to face one. When you have to face three at four positions, it makes them a really good defensive line.”

That was the plan. And Allen’s pass-rushing skills haven’t been at the expense of Minnesota’s famed run-stopping skills. The Vikings still rank No. 2 in the NFL against the run.

“Jared always brings the threat of being a sacker,” Vikings coach Brad Childress said. “But people don’t have quite the appreciation for his ability to play the run as well. He’s a good teammate. He really gets along well with those guys (Pat and Kevin Williams). They enjoy each other.”

To truly have fun, Jared Allen wants to be known as something more than the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. He wants to be a winner.

“I’ve got goals in football that are way bigger than money,” Allen said. “Pat and Kevin and those guys on the line, we expect ourselves to play well every time. I’m constantly a critic of myself. The money is nice, but that’s not what is going to define me as a football player.”

Matt Trowbridge can be reached at (815) 987-1383 or mtrowbridge@rrstar.com.

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